Combined filling and closing machine.



E. K. NORTON. COMBINED FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC.5, I9l6,

1,273,651. PatentedJll 23,1918

10 SH SHEET 2.

E. K. NORTON.

COMBINED mums AND CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DECK), l9l6. n L 1 73,651 late11t0dJu1y2.),1916.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

T T I:

E. K. NORTON.

comsmw mum; AND CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEILS. 1916- 1,273,651, Patented July 23, 1918 I0 $HEETS-SHEEI 4.

Hmwo

E. K. NORTON.

comsmeo mum; AND cmsme MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5. 916. I 1 ,273,651 Patented July 23,1918

H) SHEETS-SHEEI 5 E. II IORIIIII.

COMBINED FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED nc.5. ISIS Patented July 23, 1918.

\0 SHEETS-SHE 6.

E. K. NORTON.

COMBINED FLLLING AND CLOSING MACHINE.

1 APPLICATION FILED DEC.5. I916.

1 ,273,651 Patented July 2:5, 1918 E. K. NORTON.

COMBH )ED HLLING AND CLOSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 0mv 5, 1911;.

1 373,65 1. Patented July 2:5, 1018.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET U E. K. NORTON.

COMBINED FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC 5. 191sv 1 ,273,65 1 Patented July 233, 1918.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

E. K, NORTON.

COMBINED FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.5, I916.

I latvntcd July 23, 1918.

IO SHEETS-"SHED ID.

3" ueuto'a 'nnrrnn snares Parana ent ies,

EDWIN KENNETH NORTON, 01E CANONSB URG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CONTI- INENTAL CAN COMPANY, INCORPORATED. 0F SYRACUSE. NEW YORK, A CORPORATION COMBINED FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Eowix lx'nnnirrn Non'ron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canonsburg, in the county of Washington, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Filling and Closing Machines, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

The invention relates to new and useful innn'ovemcnts in devices for filling and closing cans, and more particularly to metal cans wherein the end of the can is seamed onto the body portion thereof for closing the can.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above character wherein the cans may be filled, the ends placed thereon, and clenched or otherwise secured to the body of the can without moving the can laterally relative to the filling device.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a combined filling and closing machine having arotating carrier on which the empty cans are placed, together with means for filling the cans, placing the ends on the cans, and securing the ends to the can bodies while the cans are still on the carrier.

A'still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character wherein the cans may be filled and closed during the continued movement of the carrier.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character with a can end feeding mechanism which ineludes devices for marking the ends as they are fed to the carrier.

A still, further object of the invention is to provide a combined filling and closing machine'which includes a rotating carrier having a plurality of filling devices and a rotating support associated with each filling device, together with means for placing an empty can on each support, means for filling the cans on the supports during a partial rotation of the carrier, and means for placing a can end over each filled can, and. also means for securing the can end onto the can body as the filled covered can is rotated.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the inveniliolli Figure l is a plan view showing, more. or less diagrammatically, a machine embodyl ig the improvements;

Fig. 52 is a view, partly in plan and partly in section showing the valves for the filling devices, the cam for operating the same, and als the, a end feeding and marking device;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line b?) of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line a-a of Fig. 2;

Fig. is a detail in vertical section showing one of the filling devices, the valve for controlling the same, the can end seat, and the rotating support for the can lobe filled, the (all having been tilled and the can end placed on its seat;

Fig. t' is a similar view. showing the support raised and the cover seated on the rhuckready to he engaged with the clenching mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a detail in section through one of the clenching rolls, showing the can end clenched to the can body;

Fig. 8 is a detail in vertical section, showing the stack and the means for feeding the can ends from the stack;

Fig. l) is a detail. showing a stack lifting device separating the stack from the lowermost can end;

Fig. 10 is another view of the same;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the can end feeding disk and the can end support;

Fig. 12 is a detail showing the means for retarding the movement of the can end while it is marked;

Fig. 13 is a. detail in section, showing the yielding finger for forcing the (an end forward to marking position;

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view through the marking device;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view through one of the nozzles and the support for the filled can, showing a modified form of means for securing the can end to the can body while on said can body support;

Fig. 16 is a similar view, but showing the can revised into engagement "with the chuck; our].

Fig. His a. detail showing the cone-shaped .reil for raising and lowering the' fipereting on the supports While the carrier is rotating. Directly above each can support is a filling device, each of which includes 2, nozzle and a valve for; closing the nozzle. These valves are open'sted by is suitable cem so that during apsrtiel rotation of the cerrieir the valves will open, the can bodies will be filled, end then the valves are closed. Also associated with the rotating carrier is a can end feeding and marking device. The can ends are taken from the steel; and fed to the marking device, and then from the marking device onto a can end seat which is located directly above the can on the rotating carrier. The can end is fed onto the sent after the can is filled and. the

valve is closed. The can body is then raised ongsged by the can body and carried up sgemst the chuck. This sects t -e can end in the can body, end as the support is re toting the con body and can end, together with the chuck engaging the some, will re tote. "Elie rotating can body with the can end seated therein is then brought into ongagement with the closing means for securing: the can end to the can body. This in one ibrm of the invention consists in a clenching device which operates to turn the edge of the can end underneath the flange on the can body at a plurality of points. in another form of the invention, the can end is secured to the can body by double seemin rolls.

' eferring more in detail to the drawings:

The improved filling and closing machine consists of a supporting-base 1 on which is mounted a rotating carrier 2. This carrier is in the form of a table which is attached to a. sleeve 3., end this sleeve 3 is rotated by suitable means. The table has a series of openings l formed therein and in each opening is a support 5. The support 5 is mounted on a sleeve 6 and this sleeve 6 can'- ries egeer 7 which meshes with a gear 8 formed in the base 1. The sleeve 6 is mounted so as to rotate and slide in e bearing formed at the outer end of an arm 9 carried by the central rotating sleeve '3 of the carrier. The sleeve 6 also ln s a rod extending therethrough hich is connected to to each support will cause the supports to rotste, and the rollers 11 also attached-to each-support will raise and. lower these sun olts, as will be hereinafter more fully de scribed.

At the upper end of the sleeve 3 of the rotating carrier there are a, plurality of tanks 13, one for each support 5, end at the lower end of each tank there is a depending nozzle 14. This depending nozzle is formed with an inner sleeve 15, and an outer sleeve 16. The outer sleeve 16 comics a rotatable chuck 17. 'lliere is o housing 18 around both of the sleeves, and ball bearings 19 are placed between this housing and the rotatable chuck 17. The lionsing 18 is also provided with a bracket 20 which extends; downwardly from the head, and this bracket carries s plate 21 which is provided with a can. endv seat- 22 "formed aorouneltlicupper edge of an opening 23 through the plate. The lower edge of this opening is ta cred as at 24. Extending downwardly tom the plate is a guiding segment 2!". This guidingv segment is adapted to receive the empty can when it is placed on the rotating support and centers the some underneath the bend.

Each nozzle is provided with a slide valve 26. The valve carries a roller 27 which is adapted toengage it com groove 28 in o. fixed plate 29. The chuck 1'? extends is slight dis tence below the flange at the lower end of the sleeve 15 and when the rotetin; sup port is raised the chuck Will engage t. e can end, seat the can end on the can body, and as the can body and endare rotated with the support the chuck will rotate. The can end is pieced on the can end seat 22, and when the can body is raised up through the opening 23, it will be centered and rounded up so est/o engage the can end.

In order to facilitate the stripping of the can end from the chuck after the end has been clenched to the body, I have provided knock-out pins 30. There are several of these pins which extend through the chuck and rotate with the chuck. Each pin is p1 ;o-, vided with a. collar 31 and a' spring 32 beering against the collar normally forces the pins dowmvardly so that their lower ends project below the lower face of the chuck. These springs will allow the pins to yield when the rotating support is moved upwardly, and the can is brought into engagement with the face of the chuck.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing's. the rotating carrier is provided with.

six filling devices and rotating supports for the cans. The empty can bodies are fed into the nmclnnc by means of a tuning dcice vice which is indicated at T in Fig. 1 of the draa'ings. Said timing device includes a traveling chain 33 having spaced. fingers M which engage the empty can bio-dim and feed the same forward onto the rotating carrier in proper timing so that the cans will move onto the rotatable supports and be centered thereon by the half-mold guiding sections At the point indicated at a: in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the can body has been pieced underneath the nozzle of the filling machine and the cam groove 28 is shaped so that the-valve is being withdrawn from this point on until the point 3 is reached, when the valve is fiiiily open. When the point. a is reached, the "valve is fully closed. When the valve is open, the filling device discharges into the empty can. and fills the some. The gear 8 for rotating the gears 7 is in the form of a segment so that the can bodies are not rotated during the filling operation.

"ihe can ends are fed to the machine by means of a can end. feeding mechanism and can end marking mechanism, indicated at i in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The can ends are placed in a stack holder (see Figs. 1 and 8). This stack holder is mounted on a suitable support and rotating underneath the stack holder is a can end feeding: disk 9; which is formed with a series of projecting arms I}? having ledges which engage the can ends and. carry them for and. The can ends are moved forward on a support 38. The can ends in the stack are normally held supported by means of a sustaining lip '39 (see Figs. 3, S) and 10), and a movable supporting member 4-0. This movable supporting member is retracted and allows the stack to drop so that the lowermost can end dropsdnto. the path of movmnent of the ledge 37 on the can end feeding disk. The supporting member 40 moves forward and separates the lowermost can end from the stack and raises the stack, (as clearly shown in Fig. '13) so as to release this lowermost can end. In Figs. 5) and 10 of lhe drawings, the can ends are indicated at 0, while the lowermost run end which is released is indicated at c.

The can ends. as above noted, are carried along the can end support 39'. Associated with this support 538 is a yielding linger 41 which engages one side of the can end, and just as the can end passes this linger, owing; to the round edge of the can end. it will be forced l'orward away from the ledge 37 on the can end feeding disk, as clearly shown in Fig.1 of the drawings. This forward movement of the can. end brings the front edge oi the can end against a vicldin linger 42. The linger 42 will hold the can end from movement with the can end l ra-ding dink until the ledge 37 again romcs against lilo can end. This gives'a momcntary dwell to the can end. During this dwell the can end is marked. The marking of the can end is accomplished by means of opposed dies, indicated at 43 and 44. The die 43 is carried by a lever 45 which is pivoted at 46 to the supporting frame, and this lever carries a roller 47 at its lower end which engages a rolatim, cam i8. The member 4-1 is carried by a slide 49 and this slide 49 carries a roller 50 which cooperates with a cam 51. As these cams rotate, they cause the dies to grip the can end while it is stationary and impress a suitable identi' fying mark or character therein. After which they release the can end, and this allows the can end feeding disk to again pick up the can end and move the same forward. This can end feeding mechanism and marking device pc-r we forms no part. of the present invention, and further disclosure thereof is not thought necessary.

As above noted, the rotating carrier is provided with a series of can end seats. one for each rotating support. The 'l'ecdinn disk for the can ends, moving' the can ends along their support, forces the can ends onto these can end seats, and thus transfers the can ends onto the rotating carrier. As above noted, the can end is led onto the carrier after the can has been filled. After the -an end has been placed on the carrier further rotation of the carrier brings the roller 10 inlo the section oi the ram groove 12 which raises the rotating support. The upward movement of this support carries the can body against the can and, and then the can end against the chuck and this seats the can end in the can body. As soon as the can end s well seated in the can body, then the gear 7 comes into engagement with the rack gear 8 and rotates the filled can clamped between the support :3 ol' the chuck.

The rotating can may then be brought into engagement with a series ol clenching rolls. The clenching mechanism is indicated at M in the drawings, and as herein shown consists of a series oi rolls 53 and 54. One oi these rolls is shown in detail in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The roll has a curling groove 55 which engages the edge of the can ends, indicated at [*1 in this ligurc of the drawings, and rolls il around the flange. f on the can body B. The roll is mounted on a suitable support which may be adjusted by means of an adjuslingr screw 56. This clenching mechanism pmm forms no part of the present invention, and has been shown particularly for the purpose of illustrating one vav of clenching the can ends on the can bodies. It will be understood that other clenching devices may be used. These clenching rolls are so disposed relative to each other that the can in passing from one roll lo the next will will be given a partial rotation so that the can end is clenciiool to like can. 'bocly'ot three point which are substantially illesome clistonco part.

- After the can; encl. has been clenched to -the can body, the rotating; support is lowcretl through the action of the cam moovo 12 and the knock-out pins strip the closed can. from the chuck. A guide 55'' extends from he rotating carriei' and serves as ii strip ping: mca'ns'for sll'i'dping the closed can from the carrier. .ln ig. l the drawings the double seamingmachine is illustrated which is indicated a; S. This double sea-m.- ingr machine is proviclccl with a rotating drum 58 and the closed cans are l'EQ-ElYtCl by this (irmn which carries-them forwmwl into the seaming machine where the ends are double seamed. onto the. can hoilies.

In Figs. 15, 16 and 17 of {Clio drawings, 1 have shown ano'l'lier form oi. means for securing the can emi lo the can body. In this fomn of the iiivenl'ion ow; support for the filled can is siniilax' in construcl'ion lo that above describei'i" The can body is centered on the support by llie bracke the can end is placed in the coin end seat in the plate 231 and. the opening tlimi'zgh this plate is towered, as indicated at 23, so as to round up the can body and canoe ii to properly engo go the can end. Tine further lifting of the can body and can encl CJCHES the can end to be seated, against the rotatable chuck 17. Prior to the placing of the can end on the seal, the valve 25 was oi. course opened so as in poo mit the contents of the con to pass down through the :eiozzle 14 into illc mam As above notecl, the support 5 for the cam. 1'0- taiecl, and ibis roralzcs the can body and can and together with the rotatable chuck 17. While the can is being rota/ted, the seeming rolls are brought into engagement with file flange on the can end for rolling the same into a scam Willi the fian c on the can body. The seaming; rolls or! incncatml at 60 and 61 in the drawings. These ore first and second operation seaming rolls. The seaming roll 61 is carried by a lever 52 which is pivoted at 63 to the head of the machine and (his lover is moved oat-l; and i'm'i'li by means of an operating cam-fi icziz'z'iwl on the sleeve which fioolv engages the outer wall ofil'lo nozzle. The seaming roll is carried by a level 86 which is pii'ol'ml :it ill. will this; level is moved to living Hie scamin roll into ongagement with the fimigzjo on llio cam coil by a cam 8 which also carried by the sleeve The. sleeve, l'ms spaced projecting ibs 68 and 70 between which :i cam rail 71 to the plate 29 extends This com rail is shaped so as to move, the sleeve 35 op and clown i n proper timing for 2; first one sea-wing Toll and then the other into engagemom with the can end in manner welllmown in this Mt, am the rotating oi llie can end and the can laody causes the cloulale seam to be formed. It will. be understood that the operation of the seaming rolls occurs: during a partial rotation of the carrier: After the can eml has been secured lo the 21m body the seaming rolls are retracted, the support 5 drops. and the knoclooul' pins 30 sbrlp the closed can from the chuck and it is later removed from the machine,

From the above (lisclosure jt will be apparent that, l have pi'ovilled e machine wherein the cmpfiy can bodies are placed on a rotating support wliicli rolaces continuously. After the empty can is once placui on the support it not movable laterally relative lo the support until it is filled; the can and placed thereon, and secured lo the can body. ll is well known that any sudden. change in the lateral movement of the can body while it is; being fillelis liable to spill the contents thereof, If it is moving it should be kept, movingi'a'ml if it is station'- zn-y it should he kept stationary, The can body in my nmchinc is x'zioving with the carricr and without changing in any Way the speed of movement it is filled and closed.

It Will be further noted that in my im' proved machine the can bodies are received in succcosion one after the other by the rotating carrier which is equipped with a plu rality of filling devices) A single can end feed snppliw the rotating carrier with. can ends, and llieee cans a fi e? they are filled and l'lle mule applied thereto are closed either by the 'sii'iglc clenching: device. operating upon the cans one after the other or by the seaming rolls which are associziicd with the filling" nozzle.

While I have described the placing of a can end on can body it will be understood. that l: have used the can oml broadly es (lofiningany covering means for the. cam, and it will also be lll'lhll'SlOOfl libel; I have nee-(l the tom: securing; means lilIOugllUlii lilo claims as defining any clcncoing of the can end onto the can body or the seaming of the c: 1 end onto the can body,

it is obvious that minor changes in. the domils of construction and the arrangement of parts may lie made without departing from the spirit of this invention as set foi' bh in the appemied claims.

Having thus described (lie invention, what is claimed as new iszl. The combination of a can support, a.

chunk cooperating with saidemi. Sapporo,

means: for filling a. can while on. soiclsoppori lhrougli. said chuck means for placing the cam end SW81 the can it, is liilel, owl means for Boating; Elle can end in the can and for occuring the eon end to the can.

The combination with {amiable cam support a XQlizfiiillfilfi clmek cooperating will": Sillfill can support, means for filling a can while on Sillil support through said chuck. omens for placing a, can and over the con.

after it is filled, and means for seating the can end in the can and securing the can end thereto.

3. The combination of a rotating carrier, a can support. mount-d thereon, a chuck over said can support, means for placing an empty am on the can support, means for filling the can through said chuck, means for placing a can end over the can after it is filled, means for raising the can support for seating the can end in the can and clamping the same against the chuck, means for rotating the can support, and means for securing the can end to the can.

4. The combination of a rotating carrier, a plurality of can supports carried thereby, a filling device associated with each support, a chuck associated with each support and having an opening thercthrough through which the can is filled, means for placing the can on each support, means for operating the filling device so as to fill the can during a partial rotation of the carrier, means -for lacing a can end over the can after it is talked, and means for securing the can end to the can while on said support.

The combination of a rotating carrier having a plurality of can supports, a supporting plate" above said can supports having tapered openings in line with the can supports and a can end seat at the upper face of each opening, a, rotatable chuck above each opening in the plate, filling devices for filling the cans through the chucks, means for placing a can end on its seat after the can is filled, means for raising the can support for causing the can to engage the can end and clamp the same against the chuck, means for rotating the can support and chuck, and devices operating to secure the can end to the can.

6. The combination of a rotating carrier having a plurality of can supports, a supporting plate above the can supports having openings in line with each support and a can end seat at the upper face of each opening, a can body guide carried by the plate for positioning the cans underneath the openings in the late, means for placing the empty cans on tii tatcd, a rotatable chuck above each opening, each chuck having an opening therethrough, a filling dei'icc associated with each chuck for lilling the anus beneath the said openings, means for controlling the filling devices whereby the cans are tilled in succession and during a partial rotation of the carrier, means for placing a can end on the seat after the cans are filled, means for raising the can supports for causing the can to engage the can end and clamp the same against the chuck, means for rotating the supports and the cans, and means for securing the can ends to the cans as they are rotated.

T. The combination of a rotating carrier, a plurality of can supports carried thereby, means for placing empty cans on the supports one at a time as the carrier rotates, a

can end support associated with each can support, a filling device associated with each can support, a rotatable chuck carried by the filling device and having an opening through which the cans are filled, means for feeding a can end from a stack onto the can end seat, and means for seating the can end in the can, rotating the can, and securing the can end to the can while on said support. In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

E. KENNETH NORTON. Witnesses WAL'rnn ()LLOMAN, BYARD W. BENNETT,

c carrier while it is ro- 

